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View Full Version : Kirby's Spare Time Sucker.... 1995 Full Size Bronco Solid Axle Swap W/ PICS!


Kirby N.
07-01-2008, 08:06 PM
This is where I have been putting in all my time lately. It is going to be sweet when it is done. I thought I would share. It is my buddy Phils rig. He has been driving it for a few years. It has never been modded at all ( OK, we built him a bumper a couple of months ago). He has never even had a lifted truc. He is determined to build it right the first time! He is doing all the research and the grinder work, rebuild work, etc. I am just there for experience, moral support, and welding. He has done an incredible job planning it out considering he started gathering parts a year and a half ago. It has been down for about 2 months now. We did the rear first.

Specs:

Rear- Stock 8.8. 4.56 Yukons, Aussie Locker, Sky Shackle Flip, Ruff Stuff Spring perches, welded axle tubes, shock mounts cut and turned for extra clearance. Axle currently moved back 1". Front hangers will be moved shortly another 2" back to move the axle back a total of 3".

Front- 1977 F150 Dana 44 (1/2" axle tubes) Fully rebuilt with all new bearings, ball joints, seals and a paint job.

6" Deaver Coils, Yukon Chomo Shafts, 4.56s, Yukon Superjoints, Warn Premiums, Ballistic fab poly/ flex joint on trackbar, Chevy TRE conversion, Threaded DOM Tie Rod, drag link, trac bar, and Tera 2.5" Johnny Joints on the Radius Arms, Stock f150 Coil Buckets. Full height. Probably stock Super Duty upper shock mounts too, but we haven't decided quited yet. Front axle moved forward approximately 3".

He also has a new set of 35" BFG Mudders he will be running.

Unlike explorer swaps, the Tranny crossmember has to go on these full size swaps. The front driveshaft can't move with down travel at all really with the stocker. That caused us to have to build a crossmember for the tranny, and we decided we might as well attach the radius arms there too.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/BroncoCrossmember.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/BroncoCrossmember2.jpg

The Radius arms are fully plated with 1/4" flat stock, then the threaded stud was ground smooth and a piece of small DOM was slid over it and plug welded in two spots as well as the ends. Then another piece of DOM was threaded for the Johnny Joints and bent in the bender to keep the link mounts near to the frame rail and to make the mounts paralell to the frame. It was plug welded in two spots and of course on the end. They are 15" extended over stock.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/BroncoArms.jpg

Side Shot As it sat tonight:

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/BroncoSideShot.jpg


Now we are working on the tracbar. We are using Ruff Stuff brakets top and bottom. The tracbar will need to be bent to clear the crossmember/ steering box. We hope it will be done by the end of June. More to come...

Kirby N.
07-01-2008, 08:08 PM
We made some more progress this weekend. Got the trac bar mounts made and attached and got the drag link/ trac bar mocked up for measuring. They are being made by a local machinist who is taking DOM and threading it for us as well as putting flats on it so we can fit a end wrench on.

On with the pics!

Some of the Radius Arms

Comparo:
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011057.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011056-1.jpg

Radius Arms in Crossmember
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011046.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011047.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011048.jpg

Trac Bar Upper Mount
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011043.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011044.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011049.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011060.jpg

Lower Trac Bar Mount
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011053.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011052.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011051.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011061.jpg

Finally, Truck on all 4s at ride height

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011059.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w226/heather502/P1011058.jpg

Splashman
07-02-2008, 05:30 AM
I never understand why people extend radius arms like that. It looks so flimsy. I really think you need to at least bridge the 2 sections with some sort of plate on both sides.

However a one piece tube would be ideal. Other then that looks good.

TNRanger
07-02-2008, 08:25 AM
I plated mine a good bit past the part where the old threaded stud was/is. It bent about 3" if front of that(as in on the stock side).

Pottsy
07-02-2008, 08:58 AM
Looks good... But those extended rad arms look like the failing point.. I have to agree with Splash..But nice work dude..:cool:

Kirby N.
07-04-2008, 01:17 AM
Thats exactly what I said! I like Diggers alot.

MY buddy phil was set on it and he did all the grinder work, so we decided to try it! We were discussing bridging it. After your input, I think we will! How do you guys think we should do that? We have talked about putting a piece of 1/4" from the bend to about 6 inches after where the tube ends on the inside and the outside. Do they bend up and down? We also thought about welding in 2 pieces of angle iron per side and boxing over the joint. What do you think would be best?

TNRanger, did you plate them with 1/4" like we did? Do you think our plating will help? Which way did yours bend?


thanks for the help fellas! Nothing speaks louder than experience!

Splashman
07-04-2008, 08:03 AM
here are some pics of mine. Going on 2 years, lots of smacking onto and dragging across rocks with no issues.

http://www.rrorc.com/gallery/data/500/medium/cut.JPG

grind or mill a nice edge so there is a snug fit

http://www.rrorc.com/gallery/data/500/medium/mill.JPG

cut a grove into some square tubing

http://www.rrorc.com/gallery/data/500/medium/groove1.JPG

then slide the 2 pieces together

http://www.rrorc.com/gallery/data/500/medium/slideside.JPG

http://www.rrorc.com/gallery/data/500/medium/slidetogether.JPG

weld the hell out of it top and bottom and up front.

http://www.rrorc.com/gallery/data/500/medium/done1.JPG

The square tube has more surface area then round tube. It's 2x2x1/4 wall. All you need is a 1.5" bung like this to attach your heim

http://www.rrorc.com/gallery/data/500/medium/heimbung.JPG

slides sungly into the back end.

http://www.rrorc.com/gallery/data/500/medium/bung.JPG

here is an overall shot. Sorry just took the pic and it's all dirty. I didn't have any pics of it off, on the ground, complete.

http://www.rrorc.com/gallery/data/500/medium/arm1.JPG

Kirby N.
07-04-2008, 01:18 PM
I like those splash! I think I would rather not start over completely if I can help it. There is too much time involved in these to throw that away. I would, however, like to do something to these to make them survive. What kind of bracing would you put on these to make them survive?

Splashman
07-04-2008, 01:47 PM
I like those splash! I think I would rather not start over completely if I can help it. There is too much time involved in these to throw that away. I would, however, like to do something to these to make them survive. What kind of bracing would you put on these to make them survive?

Donno, just weld some plate onto them overlapping the joint. Worst case... you bend them and make another set. It's all part of the fun. :cool:

TNRanger
07-04-2008, 04:00 PM
I can't find any better pics of completed pics, but here's a little reference. The passenger side arm is bent upwards just about 3" in front of where the tube sleeves the old threaded section. I ended up sliding 2" .250 wall tube over the end and butt welding it. The 1.5x.250 wall tube i extended them with got sorta thin After i tapped it to 1.25" for the hiems.

http://www.rrorc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8650&d=1158549865
http://www.rrorc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8651&d=1158549865
http://www.rrorc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8652&d=1158549876